Open top devils rear-wheel drive and eight-cylinders
are the two common factors between these beauties. But each adopt a different
approach to the thrill of driving. So, which one is the best?
For music lovers, here is a moment of total fulfilment. You
don’t see them, but you hear them. It’s pure ecstasy; there is a certain
madness to the tenor as the Ferrari 458 Spider burns that memorable soundtrack
in the aural channels. During its entire timed lap at Sachsenring the uplifting
symphony of the V8 could be heard in the pit lane, giving goose bumps to the
passionate. It’s in the 458’s DNA since it comes from the first-family of
sports car manufacturing, who produce anything that can be called mainstream.
Easily handled:
The 458 Spider tips the scales at 1,552kg compared to the 1,505kg of the Coupe.
The 458 has a traditional adversary from America. Since
1955, the Corvette has been spreading joy, just like Rock and Roll, with its so
called small-block V8. This is, however, a misnomer as the 427 comes with a
heart that measures a whopping seven litres. But now, the Chevy guys have
announced retirement plans for the sixth-generation Corvette as they start
working on a new avatar of the iconic car.
Also, for company, there is Ferrari’s archrival from F1 in
form of the McLaren 12C Spider. At least on paper, the British marque benefits
from its late birth as it incorporates the latest technologies. This McLaren is
equipped to take on the best there is with its competition-busting 625bhp of
maximum power.
Classy: The
lightweight bucket seats offer comfort and support
In the first race, the 12C beats the Italian comfortably. It
takes 17 seconds for the hardtop to open or fold, while the Ferrari driver bathes
in sunshine for three seconds longer. Both use two-piece lightweight hardtops
that can be operated electrically at a touch of a button.
In the Corvette, the occupants are protected against wind
and weather by a fabric roof. It also operates hydraulically, but is locked or
unlocked manually using a lever on the headliner. At high speeds, the bluster
of the fabric roof is deafening inside the cabin. No comparison to the Ferrari
or the McLaren, whose superior design ensures better noise isolation and improves
longdistance driving comfort.
Intimidating:
Although, the dimensions and weight are similar to the competition, the
Corvette looks the bulkiest
In the Corvette, even in softer touring mode, the suspension
springs remain hard and in the sport mode the dampers become unyielding. Over
road joints, the Corvette returns a bonejarring ride. While Corvette engineers
rely on the strength and suppleness of aluminium frame in the Z06 Coupe, they
have retained their faith in steel in the 427 Convertible. In fact, it can’t
hold a candle to the unshakable Europeans, who also reap the benefits of
adaptive damping.
The Corvette is best on the move on a smooth surface, thanks
to its outrageous engine. Though, the central camshaft and pushrod technology
might be close to attaining retirement age, it manages to deliver enormous
quantities of torque from relatively low engine speeds. Even from a cruising
speed of 50kmph in sixth gear, the milelong transmission delivers big chunks of
power to the wheels once the throttle valve lock is opened wide, transforming
the V8 into a hammering monsterwith the exhaust emitting an elemental rumbling.
At idle, the McLaren sounds impressive, but at higher
speeds, the sound mutates into a music concert reaching its crescendo. Thanks
to the new sound generation technology, the audio effect inside the cabin is
quite remarkable that is further accentuated by the lighter and louder sports
exhaust mounted on the test car. Under 3,000rpm, the twin-turbo engine remains
rather tame, but once the fans start spinning freely, the 3.8-litre engine is
freed from its shackles. The cogs in the doubleclutch gearbox slot smoothly and
quickly to deliver all that power to the wheels building up speed at a blinding
rate.
